Easily disassembled folding knife

Abstract

A folding knife includes a blade, a handle, an actuation mechanism, and a switch. The handle includes first and second side portions. The blade is pivotably coupled to the first and second side portions. The actuation mechanism is coupled to the handle and is movable between engaged and disengaged configurations. In the engaged configuration, the actuation mechanism prevents relative movement between the first and second side portions of the handle in a first direction. In the disengaged configuration, the actuation mechanism allows relative movement between the first and second side portions of the handle in the first direction. The switch is coupled to the handle and the actuation mechanism. The switch is configured such that moving the switch along a first path retains the actuation mechanism in the engaged configuration and moving the switch along a second path moves the actuation mechanism between the engaged and disengaged configurations.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A folding knife comprising:
 a blade; 
 a handle comprising a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the blade is disposed between and pivotably coupled to the first side portion and the second side portion; 
 an actuation mechanism coupled to the handle and movable relative to the first side portion and the second side portion of the handle between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein in the engaged configuration, the actuation mechanism prevents relative movement between the first side portion of the handle and the second side portion of the handle in a first direction, and wherein in the disengaged configuration, the actuation mechanism allows relative movement between the first side portion of the handle and the second side portion of the handle in the first direction; and 
 a switch coupled to and movable relative to the handle and the actuation mechanism, wherein the switch is configured such that moving the switch relative to the handle and the actuation mechanism along a first path retains the actuation mechanism in the engaged configuration and such that moving the switch relative to the handle along a second path moves the actuation mechanism between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration. 
 
     
     
       2. The folding knife of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is pivotable relative to the actuation mechanism. 
     
     
       3. The folding knife of  claim 2 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises an engaging plate with a pivot opening formed therein, wherein the switch comprises a pivot projection configured to extend through the pivot opening of the engaging plate, and wherein the switch pivots relative to the engaging plate about the pivot projection when the switch is moved along the first path. 
     
     
       4. The folding knife of  claim 3 , wherein the engaging plate further comprises a guide slot, wherein the switch further comprises a guide projection configured to extend through the guide slot of the engaging plate, and wherein the guide projection of the switch traverses the guide slot of the engaging plate when the switch is moved along the first path. 
     
     
       5. The folding knife of  claim 1 , wherein the first side portion of the handle comprises an engaging post extending therefrom, wherein the second side portion of the handle comprises a post opening configured for receiving the engaging post, and wherein the actuation mechanism secures the engaging post of the first side portion within the post opening of the second side portion when the actuation mechanism is in the engaged configuration. 
     
     
       6. The folding knife of  claim 1 , wherein the second side portion of the handle comprises a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate are coupled together and form a housing, and wherein the switch and the actuation mechanism are disposed within the housing. 
     
     
       7. The folding knife of  claim 6 , wherein the first plate comprises one or more recesses configured for receiving the switch and the actuation mechanism. 
     
     
       8. The folding knife of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more recesses of the first plate comprises a first recess configured for receiving the switch and for restricting movement of the switch along the second path. 
     
     
       9. The folding knife of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more recesses of the first plate comprises a second recess configured for receiving the actuation mechanism and for allowing movement of the actuation mechanism along the second path. 
     
     
       10. A folding knife comprising:
 a blade; 
 a handle comprising a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the blade is disposed between and pivotably coupled to the first side portion and the second side portion; 
 an actuation mechanism movably coupled to the handle and movable relative to the handle between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein in the engaged configuration, the actuation mechanism prevents relative movement between the first side portion of the handle and the second side portion of the handle in a first direction, and wherein in the disengaged configuration, the actuation mechanism allows relative movement between the first side portion of the handle and the second side portion of the handle in the first direction; and 
 a switch coupled to the handle and the actuation mechanism, wherein the switch is configured to be moved relative to the handle between a first position and a second position with a first type of movement, wherein the actuation mechanism is in the engaged configuration when the switch is in the first position and the second position, wherein the switch is configured to be moved relative to the handle between the second position and a third position with a second type of movement, and wherein the actuation mechanism is in the disengaged configuration when the switch is in the third position. 
 
     
     
       11. The folding knife of  claim 10 , wherein the first type of movement is pivoting. 
     
     
       12. The folding knife of  claim 11 , wherein the switch pivots relative to the actuation mechanism when the switch is moved between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       13. The folding knife of  claim 10 , wherein the second type of movement is translating. 
     
     
       14. The folding knife of  claim 10 , wherein the handle comprises a housing, and wherein the switch and the actuation mechanism are disposed within the housing of the handle. 
     
     
       15. The folding knife of  claim 10 , wherein the handle comprises one or more restricting elements configured to prevent movement of the switch between the first position and the third position. 
     
     
       16. The folding knife of  claim 15 , wherein the restricting elements comprise a recess formed in the handle. 
     
     
       17. The folding knife of  claim 10 , wherein the handle comprises one or more restricting elements configured to prevent movement of the switch between the second position and the third position. 
     
     
       18. The folding knife of  claim 17 , wherein the restricting elements comprise a biasing mechanism coupled to the switch and the handle. 
     
     
       19. A folding knife comprising:
 a blade; 
 a handle comprising a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the blade is disposed between and pivotably coupled to the first side portion and the second side portion; 
 at least one engaging post extending laterally from the first side portion to the second side portion; 
 an engaging plate comprising an engaging portion defining a notch, wherein the engaging plate is slidable between a first position engaging the engaging post and a second position disengaged from the engaging post, wherein when the engaging plate is in the first position, the engaging post is disposed within the notch of the engaging plate and the engaging portion of the engaging plate contacts the engaging post to prevent lateral separation of the first and second side portions of the handle, and wherein when the engaging plate is in the second position, the engaging post is spaced from the engaging portion of the engaging plate such that the first and second side portions of the handle can be laterally separated from each other; and 
 a switch comprising a projection coupled to the engaging plate, wherein the switch is configured to move the engaging plate between the first and second positions, wherein the switch is configured to pivot relative to the engaging plate about the projection from a third position to a fourth position, wherein when the switch is in the third position, the switch can move the engaging plate from the first position to the second position, and wherein when the switch is in the fourth position, the switch is blocked from moving the engaging plate from the first position to the second position. 
 
     
     
       20. The folding knife of  claim 19 , wherein one of the first and second side portions of the handle comprises a blocking feature that blocks the switch from moving the engaging plate when the switch is in the fourth position.